ABOUT US

The Ipoly Valley Special Rescue Association was founded in the spring of 2015 in the heart of Palócland. There were several reasons for our formation, the most important of which was that there was no comprehensive NGO in our region capable of carrying out complex rescue tasks that could provide professional assistance to the professional emergency services (disaster management, police, ambulance) at short notice. Although attempts have been made in the past to bring together professionals with experience in alpine or diving rescue, these initiatives have not been a lasting success. Of course, we would not have made much progress if it had not been for a small team of highly enthusiastic and enthusiastic people, ready to take on the most difficult tasks. That was the key to bringing a new organisation to life, bringing together the dedicated volunteers, the expertise available and putting it all at the service of our region.

When we were founded, we laid down the principles that we have stuck to ever since: all the association's income is used for the continuous improvement of our work: for training, which is essential for the professional performance of rescue tasks, for the continuous professional development of the divers, climbers, rock climbers, industrial alpinists, cavers, firefighters, health workers, police officers, dog handlers who form the backbone of our membership, and for building up a pool of equipment that will enable us to provide effective assistance to professional emergency services and to those in distress.

Once the key cooperation agreements were in place, we were able to clarify exactly which areas of rescue we would be working on. Among these, diving and alpine techniques were the obvious choices, but as most of our county is mountainous and hilly, and one of the most forested areas in the country, there was a real need for intervention in difficult terrain. To this end, we had to acquire off-road vehicles suitable for supporting the extinguishing of vegetation fires and for rescuing injured people who have had accidents in difficult-to-access areas. The importance of acquiring equipment to protect against floods and flash floods was also clear. Since then, we have been continuously improving our equipment and adapting it to the needs that arise.

Our association consistently builds its professional relations with foreign rescue organizations, that of the largest domestic ones operating in neighboring counties, and other special rescue organizations operating in our environment, cooperating in work, rescues, trainings and holidays. We place great emphasis on the development of our social relations, above all with disaster management, the police, county and local governments, civil guards, educational institutions, utility providers, the Red Cross, and volunteer firefighting associations.

We are proud that the last decade has proven the correctness of our principles, and we are proud that in the second smallest and least populated county of the country we have managed to build a well-functioning and well-equipped rescue service. Above all, we are proud of our fellow members, without whose sacrifice and high level of expertise we could hardly have achieved all this.

MISSIONS